There was a time in human history when a matristic culture dominated the social structure. When ask to describe the difference between matriarchal and matristic cultures, Mackey responded, "Patriarchy is men in charge, matriarchy would be women in charge . . . Matristic is a more collaborative, partnership, a communal way of governing. It's a way in which the Earth is seen as a great mother that brings forth life and is worshipped for that, but at the same time it's not a society in which women exercise over men the same kind of power that you would have in a patriarchal society that men would exercise over women. It's a gentler term. It's a more egalitarian term." In her Prequel to the Earth series of books, she imagines what it would be like for a peace-loving culture to resist an invading hoard. She shares the research on which she bases her stories. (hosted by Justine Willis Toms)